Anniversary symposium highlights textile innovation, AI, sustainability and commercialisation, alongside a new partnership with Ocean Park.
HKRITA hosted the Innovation and Technology Symposium 2026 and marked its 20th anniversary with a lighting ceremony.
© HKRITA12th October 2026
Knitting Industry
| Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) celebrated its 20th anniversary with an Innovation and Technology Symposium at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 9 October 2026, bringing together government, academic and industry leaders to explore the future of textile innovation and sustainable development.
Held under the theme ‘Weaving 20 Years | Threading New Paths. Building to Last’, the event highlighted HKRITA’s achievements in applied research, technology transfer and commercialisation, while examining emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence, green innovation, circularity and talent development.
A key highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between HKRITA and Ocean Park Corporation to strengthen collaboration in sustainability, innovation, education and knowledge exchange. The partnership will explore opportunities in green technology and circular economy initiatives, combining HKRITA’s research expertise with Ocean Park’s conservation, education and public engagement capabilities.
In her welcome address, HKRITA Chairman Teresa Yang emphasised the growing importance of innovation in maintaining industrial competitiveness and supporting sustainable development.
“Innovation and technology are reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. Amid growing global competition and sustainability challenges, innovation is no longer an option, but a key driver of industrial upgrading and long-term value creation,” she said.
Yang also highlighted the opening of HKRITA’s Shanghai office, which is intended to strengthen links with the Yangtze River Delta and mainland China’s innovation network, facilitate collaboration with research institutions and industry partners, and accelerate cross-regional technology development.
Lillian Cheong, Hong Kong’s Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, recognised HKRITA’s contribution to industrial innovation over the past two decades and outlined government initiatives supporting the transformation of traditional manufacturing sectors.
She said programmes including the New Industrialisation Funding Scheme and the Pilot Scheme on Upgrading Support for Manufacturing and Production Lines were helping manufacturers move towards higher-value, smarter and greener production.
HKRITA Chief Executive Officer Jake Koh focused on the importance of translating research achievements into commercially viable technologies and practical industrial applications.
“The true test of innovation begins when technology moves beyond the laboratory and into industry,” he said.
Koh highlighted HKRITA’s work on the Green Machine textile recycling platform, including efforts to refine its business model and accelerate commercial adoption. He stressed that the institute increasingly measures the success of innovation by its industrial reach and wider impact, rather than technological performance alone.
The partnership with Ocean Park Corporation reflects this emphasis on cross-sector collaboration. Ocean Park Chairman Paulo Pong said the organisations would combine their expertise to explore new approaches to sustainability and circularity, while encouraging businesses and the wider public to adopt more sustainable practices.
The symposium also examined the financial and technological factors shaping the next phase of industrial transformation.
Paul Yeung, Managing Director and Head of Enterprise Banking, Commercial Banking, at HSBC, delivered a keynote presentation examining how finance can support sustainable growth, artificial intelligence adoption and industrial innovation.
A panel discussion entitled ‘AI and Textiles: The New AI Frontier — Advancing the Green Fashion Revolution’ explored the potential for artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, support green innovation and accelerate transformation across textile and apparel manufacturing.
Moderated by Angelica Leung of Invest Hong Kong, the discussion featured Professor Erin Cho, Dean of the School of Fashion and Textiles at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Kanth Kolluru, Global Head of IT at Epic Group; and Roger Chan, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer at Cobalt Fashion.
A second discussion, ‘Breaking Waves: Shaping Next-Gen Minds for Global Sustainability’, considered the skills, education and innovation capabilities needed to support future industrial development.
Speakers included Professor Jeanne Tan of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Ody Chu of Alibaba.com Hong Kong and Valerie Chiu, Founder and President of Teen Animals da Scientists. The session examined talent development from academic, commercial and youth innovation perspectives.
The event also incorporated the Open Lab Global Challenge 2026 awards ceremony, recognising students developing innovative responses to environmental and social challenges.
In the secondary school category, Mikanex, developed by students from St. Paul’s Convent School, received the winning award, while Patch and Pair from Good Hope School was named runner-up.
In the university and tertiary education category, Fung Sin Ching of The Chinese University of Hong Kong won with BIODYE: Circular Biotech Resolution for Sustainable Denim. Fellow university student Leung Chi Ho received the runner-up award for a project converting agricultural and forestry waste into 3D printing materials.
Winning teams presented their projects during the symposium, demonstrating how emerging innovators are applying technology and sustainable design principles to practical environmental challenges.
Established in 2006, HKRITA is funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong SAR Government and hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The institute supports the textile and apparel industry through applied research, technology transfer and commercialisation, with a growing emphasis on circular manufacturing and sustainable production technologies.
Its 20th anniversary symposium underlined the institute’s ambition to extend the industrial application of research, strengthen international and cross-sector partnerships, and support the transition towards a more technology-driven and sustainable textile and apparel industry.